Neighbourhood correlates of homicidal strangulation in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Drawing on the structural theories of strain and control, the current study examined the neighbourhood correlates of homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg in South Africa for the period 2001-2010. A principal components analysis was conducted, and binomial regression models fitted to examine the relationships between neighbourhood characteristics and fatal strangulation. The results demonstrated partial support for the theories of strain and control and indicated that the effect of theoretically and empirically derived socio-structural factors on homicidal strangulation is variant for different socio-demographic groups, with significant effects most distinct for blacks. The study recognises strangulation as a unique phenomenon that is distinct from overall homicide.